Being the professional dieter that I am, I have asked myself countless times the following question: "Should I cut out sugar all together?"
Once I answered yes and I didn't have sugar for six months. Unfortuneatly, I began a love affair with all of those sugar free products. The ones that make you go. And go. And go. I went back to sugar.
Once I answered yes and I didn't have sugar for three months. The last day was the day my husband was in a motorcycle accident. I ran back to sugar just for comfort.
One time I answered no and I told myself I would only eat sugar on the weekends. It worked until the first Monday after the first weekend. Sugar intake causes craving of sugar for me. So I had some. Then I told myself I'll only have sugar on the weekends and Monday. This worked until Tuesday. :0)
I think the sugar question is one that each of us have to answer for ourselves, depending on our own body chemistry and how sugar affects us. I ran across the following verse and it changed me. Forever. On the sugar question.
Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.
1 Corinthians 6:12 (Amplified Bible)
How I apply this when it comes to sugar, is that sugar is permissible but it is not helpful. But most importantly, I must not become a slave to sugar.
And believe me, I have been its slave.
So what do I do now? Well, not perfectly, of course, but I have adopted moderation. Too long I've lived with the all or nothing view of not only sugar but dieting. Either I am doing it perfectly or I will eat everything I can find. :0)
In my moderation, with my body type and chemistry and with how sugar affects me and my weight I TRY:
1) to never, ever eat sugar in the morning. Messes up my blood sugar for the rest of the day.
2) to not drink sugar. I occasionally have a glass or wine or a margherita, but only occasionally.
3) to not have desserts in the house. If they're here, I will eat them.
4) to split a dessert with someone if I'm at a restaurant.
I TRY. Not perfectly at all. But living imperfectly and getting rid of my all or nothing thinking is a huge goal of mine. Most of all when I feel that I MUST have sugar I know that I am being a slave to it and I PRAY and repeat 1 Corinthians 6:12 until the temptation leaves.
This is what I am TRYING to do when it comes to sugar. What about you?
11 comments:
I can't seem to find moderation. When I eat sugar, I eat all I see!
But I am thinking that maybe I could make a rul where I only have sugar when I eat at a restaurant.
I don't know, because when I do eat some it triggers cravings.
Now that I'm off sugar the cravings are gone.
I know that when I eat it, I pack on the pounds. When I don't, I can stay pretty steady.
If I could learn moderation, I'd definitely go with that. :)
If you're like Kay, I think you have to stay off of it. BUT, if you can do it, it is good to be moderate in most things. Extremes in anything will burn a person out, and then he/she goes back to the old way of behaving. I like the moderation thing Robbie, as long as it works for you.
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I'm like you... if I have it in the house I eat it. So, if I am really craving something like a piece of cheesecake or pie, I will buy just one slice to satisfy my craving - that way I don't eat the whole pie!
Your post reminded me of Lenten season a few years ago... I gave up all sweets and did really well. Last year I was going to do the same thing, but wasn't in the same place mentally so I began thinking maybe I'll just give up desserts, or maybe I'll just give up chocolate. God gently reminded me that Jesus did not pick and choose which of my sins he died for.... He died for ALL of my sins. Set me straight pretty quick!
I totally get what you're saying. In fact, this is right where I am at. Several months ago, in conjunction with my bible studies I was doing, I felt God challenge me to give up sweets as I seemed to be more in love with them than I was with Him. Sweets were definitely an idol in my life. I didn't give them up, though. In fact, I worshipped them even more with the holidays and all of that.
God used many incidental things to bring me conviction over my addiction to sweets, most of which I ignored, until I started getting really bad acid reflux, which I have never had before in my life, except for some heartburn when I was pregnant. So I started testing my diet to see what I was eating that was triggering the symptoms, and wouldn't you know, when I took out sweets, the symptoms went away. So I finally decided I had better obey God over this instead of my appetite, and quit sweets. Last weekend I had a treat at church to see if my "theory" about sweets and the acid reflux was true. I took a nap after church. Wouldn't you know, I woke up from that nap with the worst heartburn I had ever had.
SO... I guess for me, giving up sweets is a part of my sanctification. It's not for everybody, but for me, sweets are just not that beneficial. My love of sweet things is one of the encumberances I have to let go of so I can run this race to win.
1 Cor. 9:24-27!
Love you,
Hilary
Kay, I so admire your desire to live healthy! You can do it! I watch you, too, to get inspiration. :0)
Denise, the thing about moderation is moderation is DIFFICULT. :0) But I try. We try. We live. :0)
Donna, absolutely. If I buy a pie, I will eat a pie. Period. :0)
I've been thinking about Lent. Hmmm...
Hilary, you inspire me! Obedience is always blessed. The acid reflux thing was a sure word from God, huh. I still wrestle with the sugar question and will the rest of my life. :0) Thank you for being an inspiration to follow God COMPLETELY.
Hi Robbie, I met you at the Pinecrest Mom's Group a while back. It's neat to see your posts about your struggles and challenges. Not many people are willing to put it all out there! I'm on a health journey, too, and I'm sure will be for the rest of my life. Not lose weight, but to be healthy and a good example for my kids. :) I try to live by the 80/20 rule. I do what I know to be best for my body 80% of the time, and allow myself some leeway the other 20% of the time. If we adopt an all-or-nothing approach, it just sets us up for failure. I've also just started blogging my weekly mealplans. If you are interested in some new recipe ideas, come on by! www.52mealplans.com :)
Jenna, I checked out your website! LOVE having a new resource. You are quite a cook. :0) And I love the 80/20 idea! :0) Thank you!
I cut out sugar about two weeks ago. The obvious stuff, like cake, ice cream. I know peanut butter has a little in it but I'm not worrying about that yet. I have felt pretty good and it hasn't been so bad yet. I am an extreme sugar craver. Evenings after supper are the worst times for me. That's when I want to snack. Robbie and you others, keep up the good work and hang onto that desire to be healthy. Maxine
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